West Night High School - Echo Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

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VALEDICTORY R. M. GERBER. Ezllow Pupils, Teachers and Friends.- It is with mingled feelings of joy and sorrow that I per- form this duty tonight. Joywheeause after four years of earnest and diligent effort we are to reap the reward Four years ago we gathered, many of us for the first time in this building, With a thirst for higher education and a determi- nation to faithfully attend this school for the full four years. Have we not then just cause to be jOyful and proud that we have had sufficient perseverance and ambition to carry us through these four years? And who will say that these years have not been fruitful ones? We have been comrades in a common cause, and through our little trials and strug- gles twe can call them little Howl have formed many friend- ships which will always be sweet memories to us. It is with sorrow, therefore, that at the crowning of our efforts we must part. With the parting we shall put away our Old work with its associates, and new enterprises will call for our attentions. Therefore it is well thzit We look to-Lhe future. lVe shall meet new conditions and iiitelividual prob lems, and, in the absence of our former aesistance and encouragement, we shall be compelled to rely upon our own resources. It ha: been saicl that we need not so much to be informed :19. to he reminded. Let us then recall some of the things upon which we can build our future. The struggle for existence is becoming keener daily, and only the strongest succeed. We Find about us every- where numerous physical and moral bankrupts. Benjamin Franklin is the authority for the statement that nine men in ten are suicides, that nine men iii ten are assassins of their own happiness. We journey through life over the beaten pathS, forgetting that we are the creation and the creators of our environments. NVe seem to think that the attainment of wealth will bring all happiness. lVe little realize what we sacrihce through this desire. We make FOl'TlpaniOUS of people whose actions are based wholly upon mercenary gains, forgetting that wealth in itself is hot the end. but a means to an end; namely, happiness, There are many who are hot receiving all. the joy and happiness. which nature allotted them through their iIItEIU- permice. Many a man has sacrihced himself upon this altar. The addiction to zilcoholic drink is evidenced everywhere. 1ts results are pronounced; but, 011 the other hand, there

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By this time the shades of night were falling, and I began to look about for a roof to cover my head other than the hrmament above. Not being acquainted, I W215 at 1055 to know Where to turn, when I bethought myself of the friend of my first experience in this city Officer Alma Rolf, zmd, fortunately, found her; She recommended to me the Brandhor'st-Platt Hotel. which was considered the finest in the city, and Where I would not be unacquainted. Under her guidance I soon reached my destination and was indeed happy to meet those two inseparable friends, Verna Flatt and Margaret Braudhorst, who were the pro- prietors of the elegant hotel, I was informed that there would be a grand dance in the ballroom that evening. to which I was invited. After resting and, reading the History Of the United States-Mexican War, I went into the ball- room and there had the honor of meeting the prize waltzer, Ed. Lemker, and his Charming wife, a young heiress from College Hill, Ohio, with whom at last he has succeeded in dancing to his heartls content. Having left the Mexicans in the midst of a bloody bat- tle, I was anxious to return and see them safely titled over, so, excusing myself, I retired. XVith the end 0f the war I fell asleep and continued to do so until my delightful haste eases called to me. to get up and come to ChUFJh with theim After it short walk we came to a splendid church, and upon entering I noticed it was beautiquy decorated with many genuine bronze and marble statues. The servicee were up- lifting, and especially was the sermon, cntitlerl iKAS Ye Sew So Shall Ye Ripfi very interesting, delivered by Reverend Robert XVhite. Suddenly, as the last hymn was being sting, an unusual feeling came over me, :1 mist seemed to envelop me I was sitting in my chair in my own home with a notice in my hand that I was heiress: to $7,000,000.

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are also failures clue to intempernuce in other things. Re are careless in our eating, drinking and exercise, and the fatal results are just as certain as those of alcoholic drinks. If we wish to succeed we must keep our bathe: well. A noble mind cannot exist in a carrupt body. The joy and pride which we are experiencing this even- ing can be said to be due to our industry and ambition, Each has some ambition which has led him or her through these four years. Let us cherish and kindle this ambition and work earnestly to realize it. Perhaps the realization may not be possible in the immediate future, li-ut let us not lose sight of it, for we will l'md that it we apply ourselves- dlligently to its attainment we will have time for nothing else and we will not go far astray. And now, as the curtain has been rung down on the last scene of our scholastic careers as a class, let us recall that we have fought our battles side by side. Let us recall that the joys of our conquests, as well as the bitterness of our defeats, have been share and share alike. V.'e have met; we have mingled; now we part. May it be that our parting shall cause a ripple to protrude upon the attrface of our memories that the destroying hand of time may leave un- marred,